Voting-machine



A. SNUECK.

VOTING MACHINE.

, (Application filed Mar. 7, 1895.) (No Model.) 7 l3 sheets sheet I.

No. 608,923. Patented Aug. 9-, I898.-

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No. 608,923. Patented Aug. 9, I898.

A. SNDECK.

VOTING MACHINE.

(Application filed. Mar. 7. 1895.)

I3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

THE mamas PETERS ca., VIASHINGTON, n. c.

rim-608,923. Patented Aug. 9, I898.

A. SNOECK.

VOTING MACHINE.

Application filed Mar. 7, 1895. (No Model.) 13 Sheets-Sheet 4.

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Patented Aug. 9, I898.-

A. SNUECK.

VOTING MACHINE.

Applicat-iun filed Mar. 7, 1895.)

I3 Sheets-Sheet 5.

(No Model.)

No. 608,923. Patented Aug. 9, I898.

A. smack.

VOTING MACHINE.

' (Application filed Mar. 7, 1895. (No Model.) B Sheets-Sheet 8.

1H1: mamas PETERS ca, WASHINGTDN. a. c.

No.6l)8,923. Patented Aug. 9, I898.

' A. SNOECK.

VOTING MACHINE.

(Application filed Max. 7, 1895) I3 Sheets-Sheet 7.

(N0 Model.)

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. (Lay THE NORRIS PETERS ca, WASHINGTGN, o. c.

Patented Aug. 9, I898.

A. SNUECK. VOTING MACHINE. (Application filed Ma '7, 1895.)

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No. 608,923. Patented Aug. 9, I898. A; SNOECK.

VOTING MACHINE.

flApplicM-ion filed mm. 7, 1895.)

I3. Sheets-Sheet ID.

(No Model.)

1m: muuus PETERS cc, WASHINGTON, n. c."

No. 608,923. Patented Aug. 9, less;

A. SNUECK. I

VOTING MACHINE.

(Application filed Mm. '7. 1895.

I3 Shae!sSheet II.

{No Model.)

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Patented A69. 9, I898. A. SNOECK.

VOTING MACHINE.

[Application filed Mar. 7, 1895.)

(No Model.)

Elbe-rt 57106070.

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Patented Aug. 9, I898.

No. 608,923. A. SNOECK.

VOTING MACHINE.

A 'ncmion filed Mar. 7. 1895.

I3 Sheets-Sheet l3.

(No Model.)

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PATENT OFFICE.

ALBERT SNOECK, (ll HARTFORD, CONNECYIICUT.

VOTING-MACHINE.

srncrrron'rron ilorming part of Letters Patent No. 608,923, dated August 9, 1898.

Application filed Ketch '7, 1896. 18011:] Io. 540,849. (No model.)

"To all whom it may (unicorn:

Be it known that I, ALBERT SNQEoK, a sub jectof the King of Belgium, but at present residing at Hartford, in the county of Hartford, State of Connecticut, have invented an Improvement in Voting-Machines and Booths 'lherefor, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawin gs, is a specifi dation, like letters on the drawings representing like parts.

.This invention relates to voting-machines of the class wherein aseries of voting or registoring keys are arranged adjacent the names of the various candidates for election, opera.- tion of any key actuating a suitable counter, which registers a vote for the candidate represented by the key operated.

One part of my invention has for its object to provide suitable looking or interlocking devices for preventing simultaneous operation of any of the. keys in the same series and also of any keys in two or more differentseries coupled in the same group. For grouping 'difforent'series of. keys to permit the voter to select and operate any two or more of a large number of keys representing as many different candidates for the same office, I have provided one or more grouping devices, which may be set or adjusted so as to limit or fix the total number of keys to be operated by any single voter from the group connected with and controlled by it; and-another part of my invention consists in providing suitable. means whereby anyseries of keys may be coupled or connected with any one of the grouping devices to enable any two or more of the series to be brought into the same group.

Myinvention also comprehends a series of straight-ticket koys,which are operated independently of the other or individuaLvoting keys. i a

.In'voting-machines of this class the names of regularly-nominated candidates only are displayed adjacent and to be voted for by means of the indi vidual-keys,-and some provision must be made for what may be termed f irregular or independent voting-i. 6., votes cast for persons whose names do not appear upon the face ofjthe machine.

Heretofore in machines of this class irregular or in dependent voting has been provided per, one foreach oilicer to be elected, the voter being'required t-o writethe name of the individual for whom he wishes to cast his vote either upon a slip of paper or ballot which is deposited in the receptacle or upon the strip of paper corresponding to the oflic'e to be filled; but in cases where a plurality-H for a school-board-,-each member or oflicer must have a separate receptacle or strip of paper, and it is possible for a voter to write the same name upon all four' of the slips, drop the same in the respective receptacles, or write the same-name upon all four of the strips of paper, and thus cast four votes for the same individual for the-ofiice of school board; To obviate this possibility for repeating, my invention eomprehends a single receptacle only for all independent or irregular votes, the same to receive a single ballot,u' n which the names of all the individua 5 voted for and for whatever oflice are written. In such a case .to repeat would requirethe same name to appear two or-more times .on the same ballot,=which would be readily detected when the ballots are counted, and such a ballot would be at once cast aside.

tel-locked in suitable manner'with the other keys of the machine to prevent its operation after operation of any of the other keys and to prevent operation of the other keysafter .it has been operated, it beingfurtherprovent two or more successive operationstby the same voter.

My invention also comprehends a suitable booth to contain the voting-machine, which with its accessories, together with other features of my invention, will be hereinafter declaims.

Figural is a front elevation of a ballotdoor swung back to expose a part of the war ing mechanism; Fig. 2, a rear side elevation -This single independent-voting device is in-' scribed, and particularly set forth in the for by means of receptacles or strips of pa.

say four ofiicers--are to be elected to the-- same oifico-e. g. four members to be elected vided with suitable locking devices to premachine embodying ;my invention with the of-the machine shown in Fig. I; Fig. 2, a detail to be described; Fig. 3, a. top or plan view of the machine, Figs. I-fllld 2; Fig. 4 a vertical partial section, on an enlarged tively, of one of the interlocking devices beon the dotted line tween the voting-keys in'the' same series. Fig. 7 is a, section, on an enlarged scale, taken at m, Fig. 1, looking to the left; Fig. 8, face and edge views, respectively, of one of the interlockingdevices between two series ofvoting-keys; Fig. 9, face and edge views, respectively, of one of the consections-between a sliding member and one of the grouping members; Fig. 10, a vertical sectional detail through one of the grouping devices; "Figs. 11 150.15, inclusive, details of.

parts of the grouping devices; Fig. 16, a. perspective detail-to be referred to; Fig. 17, a partial section, on an enlarged scale, taken 1 on the dotted line a? fi, Fig. 2, looking to the left, the section being also on the dotted line 0: m", Fig. 1, looking to the right, showing parts of the irregular-votingdevice; Fig. 17, a topor plan view voting device; Figs. 18 and 18, perspective details showingone arrangement of interlocking device between adjacent keys in the same horizontal series; Fig. 19, a plan view 'of'a booth embodying my invention Fig. 20, a front view of the same with a part of the broken away to and parts of the booth within; Fig..21,,a vertical section on the dotted line y y, Fig. 20, looking to the right; Fig; 21*, a detail showexpose the voting-machine .fng the alarm and indicator parts on an enin these perspectives.

larged scale; Fig. 22,11. vertical section on the dotted. Iine'y' y, Fig. 20, looking to the left; Fig..23 a sectional detail showing the preferred construction of reflecting-slats for the booth; Fig.- 24, an enlargedjperspective detail showing-the independent-voting device with. the card ill-position and its holder pushed inwardly, coveringthe upper edge of the card and preventing its withdrawal,- 'the figure showing the parts in the positions inwhich they appear. j list before the pressure of the ejector w? toejeet the card from the holder; Fig. 25, a perspceti ve view of the parts shown in Fig. 22, and Fig. 26 a perspective view of the parts shown .in Fig. 21, so far as it has been possible'to show the several parts Fig. 27 is a perspective view of Fig.- 10.

In the particular niaehine selected to illus' trate my invention, and therefore shown in the drawings, the front and back frames, of suitable shape and construction to sustain the working parts, are shown as 'consisting each of a scries'of upright members a a, con: nectcd at "proper intervals by the horizontal members a a-,-th'e two frames being shown it jognfd by suitable cross members (1?.

lback frameof the counter-actuators,

of a part of theirregularfront .usual custom to arrange in the same eospea Instead of the composite frame described I may employ frame-plates suitably formed or struck upfrom single strips of metal.

In the present embodiment of my invention I have shown the voting-keysas arranged in vertical and horizontal series, the top horizontal series I) being what I term straightticket keys, to be hereinafter described, the other. horizontal series I) being what I term "individrfal-voting keys. The individual-voting keys I) b are provided at their outer ends with suitable finger-tips and back of the'same with suitable shanks b,

sde Fig. 4,) extending from the front to the back frames of the maehineand mounted to slide in suitable bearings in the horizontal members a of the said frames.

Secured to the vertical members a of the machine are the counters c, three of which are shown in Fig. 2, the others being removed to better show the parts back of the same, the said counters 0 being of any suitable or'desired construction adapted to register successive movements of their herein shown at .0, each counter, as shown, having one or more res'etting-arbors cF.-

Each of the'Iinger-keys (see Fig. 4) is pro vided near its inner endwitlr a shoulder b, which, when the key. ispressed inwardly, strikes against one arm of a bell-crank lever, pivoted at c.to, one of the vertical standards of the back frame, causing its other arm 0 to strike the counter-actuator from the under side (see Fig. 2) and raise the same to cause the said actuator to register one movement of the voting-key, there being one of thesebell cranklevers e a for each of the keys of the machine, so that when a key is the particular candidate repreloo sented bythe key operated. The keys are 1 'returned again totheir normal outerpositions by suitable springs c, (see Fig. 4,) connecting the arms 0" of the bell-crank levers with the frame, but the counter-actuators remain in theirielevated positions until positively depressed. J 1 Preferably the keys I) arearrangcd in both vertical and horizontal series, it being the zontal series names of the candidates of the different-parties for the same oificc. to prevent operation or pushing in of two or more of the ke s in the same horizontal row, which 'would i; iereby enable a single voter to register votes for more than the one candidate for whom he is entitled I have zontal members their front ends, machine, resting tables b formed adjacent the front of the at their tips upo'n suitable on and as a part of the-keys;

The corners o the interlocking frames 12- are cut at an .nnglc as at 5. Fig. 3, audare ceases I adapted to be acted upon by the wedge-shaped or tapering projections G on the several keys, said projections constituting separators.

Jach' oftheinterlocking frames lrfibetwecn its widest points, is of a width substantially equal to the distance from center to eenterbetween two adjacent keys in the same'horizontall-ow, and, referring to Figs. 3 andlS, it

will be seen that in the normal condition of the machine the points of the projections 6 on the keys enter slightly the V-shaped openings formed between the angular corners of two adjacent interlocking devices b'fithc points 0 projecting into the said openings-to such a distance as will permit the interlocking devices at either side and forminghalt of the V-shaped openings to be moved toward them a distance equal to one-half the thickness of the projcctionsl p The operation of theinterlocking mechanism is as follows, viz: \Vhen any singlekey is pushed in, its pointed projection 6 will trike the angular corners of the interlockin de vices forming the V-shaped opening in front of it and will separate the said=interlocking devices, moving each a distance equal to onehalf its width, which will thereby enable the said projection to pass through or between the said interlocking devices and actuate the counter, as described; but the projection 6 is of such a length that when a'key is, pushed to its innermost position the projection still stands between and holds separated the two interlocking devices between which it passed, (see Fig. 18,) so that if itis attempted to push inwardly any of the other keys in the same horizontal series their pointed projections 0 upon striking the angular corners of their respective interlocking devices will find it impossible to move said interlocking devices on account of the projection 6 of the key first p'ushed holding the .same against lateral movement.

Arranged at the back of the front frame 'of the machine and mounted in suit-able bearings therein are a series of horizontal sliding plates or members (Z, which I term interlocking members, the same beingnotched or recessed, as at d", to permit the key-shanks b to be carried therethrough. (See Fig. 18.)

The keyshanks ll" are provided at'one of their sides with lugs 7:, having inclined front faces 7, and the notches d" in the sliding in-, terlockin g members (1, through which the keys pass, are of a width substantially equal to the combined width of a key-shank and the lug bat its widest point. p i

The keys I) at their sides opposite the incline-faced 1n gs I) are shown as provided with other square-faced stop-lugs U, projecting at one side to nearly the same distance as the incline-faced lugs b". In the normal condition of the machine the sliding interlocking members d are in their extreme right-hand positions, Fig-18, the left walls of the notches d" then contacting with the shanks of the severaljkeys When in such position, the stop-lugs IF stand immediately in front of the said sliding members (I. I

ll now one of the keys I) be pushed inwardly, its incline-faced lug ll will act upon the left wall of its notch in the sliding interlocking member and move the latter to the left, (see Figs. 1 and l8,) in ordcrthat thesaid lug may pass through the notchdnring the inward pushineof the key, such sliding of the interlocking member (I to the left bringing the right walls of the several notches against the right faces of the several keys, and, with the exception of the key operated, the said right walls of the notches when moved against the keys are moved directly in front of the stoplugs b of the remaining keys of the series, thereby preventing the said remaining keys being pushed inwardly, for the reason that when pushed their stop-lugs will strike the sliding members cl, which will prevent further movement. The key operated or'pushed inwardly is likewise locked against return movement by its stop-lug b at the opposite or inner side of the sliding interlocking member (1, so that until the said interlocking member d has been positively returned to its normal position at the right the key operated cannot e returned to its normal position, nor can any of the remaining keys d has been returned to the right, the operated key may be returned by its spring to its normal position and the remaining keys of the series may any of them be operated as desired, but in any case not more than one at a time.

.95 of the series hepushed inwardly. When the sliding member Referring now to Figs. 1 and 3, the sliding interlocking members d at their left ends are suitably supported and made to slide in the extreme end standard of the frame, and arranged back of the said interlocking members d and adapted to move in lines at right angles 'thereto-viz., in vertical lines-I have herein shown three what I shall term grouping members e c, the same having suitable bearings in the frame at their lower ends and at their upper ends pivoted to the group-actnat'or arms, tol'ie described.

Each of the sliding interloekin g members (I is provided with a notch d for and adjacent each of the vertical grouping members cross ing the same, and each of the vertical grouping members is provided adj acent each of the sliding interlocking members ('1 with a shoulder 0, and I have provided suitable grouping connections f, shown as bell-crank levers, adapted to be pivoted upon'the pivot-pins f (of which there is one for each notch in each of the sliding interlocking members) and with one of their arms entering the notches in the interlocking mcmbersandtheir other' arms arrangedbeneath the shoulders e of the as connected by the grouping connections f eral to be hereinafter described. Referring now to Figs. 1, 3, and 7 and to the operating with this ratchet-wheel h nects the pawl h with an arm 0 :55

I wheel h pocket It with the first or right-hand vertically-movable grouping member, and the last four in-, terlockin g members (I are shown as connected by the grouping connections f with the second or middle vertically-movable grouping members, and by removing or inserting the sevgrouping connections f where needed it is evident that any sliding interlocking member dmay be connected with any verticallymovable grouping member e, for a purpose detail Figs. 10150 15, inclusive, H H are what I shall term the grouping devices, and as they are similar in construction I will describe in detail but one only. Referring particularly to 15, h is a pin projecting frame and having journaled upon'it a sleeve h, carrying at its front end a notched wheel h, (see Fig. 11,) the-said notched wheel being in effect an ordinary ratchet-wheel with a at the bottom of each notch, below the dotted lines represented in Fig. 11. Go-

is a pawl h, (see Figs. 1 and 15,) pivoted at h to a group actuator 1;, said group-actuator, having its sleeve or hub h surrounding and having. its bearin 3 upon the sleeve h of the toothed wheel the said group-actuator h having jointed to it at h the upper end of its grouping member e described. A s ring h con- Pthe actuator and serves toiretain the pawl always in operative en "agement with the teeth of its ratchet- At the front side of the ratchetwheel 11 1 have arranged a disk In of a diameter substantially that of the dotted lines, Fig. 11, to overlap and cover the oekets Zr, the pawl h being of sufficient wi th to lap over upon the periphery of this disk, and with the periphery of the disk intact-that is, un-

broken-th e ratchet-wheel It will serve simply. as an ordinary ratchet-wheel. At one point.

Figs. 7 and- 10 to forward from the cfits circumference the disk It is provided with a notch or pocket h, adapted to register with one of the pockets h of the ratchetpawl during rotation with the ratchet-wheel and its disk h reaches the pocket It in the disk it will drop into the said pocket and also intothe pocket h of the ratchet-wheel, the shape of the engaging end of the pawl being such that when it drops into one of the pockets h itwill remain therein until positively removed by the resetting device, to be described, retrograde movement of the ratchet-wheel being g gevented by a usual stop or retaining pawl (Shown in Fig. 1.) Upon the inner end of the sleeve h of the ratchet-wheel is made fast-a grooved pulley 71. in the groove of which is wound and made fast one end of a cord'h, suspending at the back of the machine a weight it, (see Fig. 2,

or instead of the weight I may employ its wellknown equivalent--a spring-the action of the weight or its equivalent being to rotate the ratchet-wheel h in a direction opposite that in which it is moved by the group actuator. To disengage the pawlsfromthe ratchetwheel h to permit the said ratchet-wheel to be connecting-rod h to which all of the-camplates 71. of the several grouping devices are connected, the said connecting-rod If", at its left end, being herein shown as jointed to one end of a bell-crank lever h, pivoted upon a stud h, having its arm h acted'upon by the forked end of an arm h fast on the resettingshaft h, journaled in suitable bearings on the frame and provided with a resetting-arm h". (Shown in dotted lines, Fig. 7, and in full lines, Figs. 2 and 3.)

Referring to Figs. 1, 3, mad 16," I have loosely mountedupon the hub of the bellcrank lever h -an arm 11, which is provided, as herein shown, with a pin 11', which enters a groove or slot P in the hub of the said bellcrank lever. While the slot (see Fig. 16) is- ,of such a length as to permit a yielding relative movement of the arm 21 to the bell-crank lover h", yet full movement of the lever cannot take place without also moving the arm 1', a spring 1" connecting the arm and bellcrank lever and serving to hold the same normally-in position with the pin 1' at the end of the slot. (Shown in said Fig. 16.) To the free end of the arm #1 is jointed a vertical sliding returning-rod i", which passes down back of the several horizontal sliding interlocking. members (1 and is provided just above each of the several interlocking members d with pins 2'. (See Fig. 1.) Between the pins if. and their. respective interlocking members and adapted'to be actuated by the pins are arranged the bell crank lovers 7?, pivoted upon pins i on the frame and having one of their arms standing just below the pins 6. and their other arms entering notches 17 in the interlocking members (i, so that when the said returning-rod 11 is depressed its several pins will act through the bell-crank lovers 1 to move all those interlocking members d which are in their abnormal positions at the left to the right again into their normal positions, as will be hereinafterdescribe'd.

To enable the operation of my improved machine to be understood, reference maybe had to Fig. 20, showing the machine in its position in a voting-booth.

Each of the vertical rows of keys is supposed to receive the names of all the candidates regularly nominatcd by one party. Accordingly the three vertical rows are denominated by the abbreviations Rep. Donn,

ISO

and Pop," denominating the Republican, Democratic, and Populist parties,'orany other part y may be substituted, if desired. left of the keys are shown the words Senntor," llcprosentative,ant School Board," it belng'supposed that'ono member is to be elected for tho oflicc of senator, and accord ,ingly the word Senator is placed against one hori'llontal row or series of keys to thereby permit-the one candidate nominated by either party to be voted for. Two representatives are supposed to be elected. Therefore two rows are included underthe headingReprcscntative to thereby permit two candidates of either party to be voted for to 'fill this office, and under the headingSchool Board arcincluded four horizontal rows or series of keys to enable four candidates on each. ticketthat is, in each vertical row-to be voted for.

Referring now to Figs. 1 to 4, a voter wishing to cast his vote for one of the candidates for senator presses that-particular key in the horizontal series against the word Senator, which is against the name of the individual for whom he wishes to cast his vote, andwhen he presses in the said key the counter for that key at the back of the machine registcrs one votoior the candidate represented by the key, and at thesame time the interlocking member (I for that series of keys is moved to the left, locking thatkey in its in: most position and, as described, locking all the. other keys in the same or Senator series against operation, so that it is impossible for him to afterward press any'of the 'remain ing keys or-cast other votes for other eandi dates for the same oifice. To vote for two candidates for the ofiice' of representative, the voter will press those two keys in the two "rows adjacent the word Representative which are against the names .of the candisdates for whom he wishes to vote. To give to the voter the privilege of voting for any of the six names arranged adjacent the word- Representative, it must be possible for him to press one key only inrthefirst row and one key only in the second row,'or two keys in either of the rows, and atthe same time lock all the other keys against operation.

Referring now to Fig. 1, I have connected the two sliding interlocking members (1 for the two rows of keys adjacent the word Rep resentative by the grouping connections f with the llrst vertically-movable grouping member 6, connected with and operating the first of the grouping devices 11. I then, by

aneans of a suitable device shown as a screw i turn the disk 79 of that.grou ping device on and with relation to the ratchet-Wheel h thereon into such positionthat the pocket h of the disk shall register with the pocket h of the second tooth of then'atchet-wheel to be engaged by the pawl of the group-actuator, the 'operationot the mechanism then being as follows, viz:- Assuming that the voter wishes to vote for two candidates whose At the names are in the same or first horizontal serios, he will press orient the keys and register his vote for the candidate represented by that kcyin the counter, such movement. of the key throwing the interlocking member (I to the h-l' t and causing it, through the group connection 1'', to raise the grouping member a and causing the pawl 71; onthe group-actuator connected therewith to push the ratchetwheel 71. one notch in the direction of the arrow thereon, Fig. 1. As soon as the operaacts to return the same to its normal position, and as soon as the key commences its return movement the weight of the grouping member e, with its attached parts, causes the said member to drop, and, through the grouping connection f, returns the interlocking membar (I also to its normal position, so that it does not prevent full return movement of the key operated, and when so returned 'tor releases his key the spring 0 described will also permit subsequent'movement of either of the keys in the same horizontal row. The voter has now cast one of the two votes allotted to him for representative. 'lo register his second vote for any; candidate whose name is in the same horizontal series, he will i press the key against the candidates name and cause the counter for that key to register a vote for the candidate, such movement of the key throwing the interlocking member (1 again to the left as before, causing it, through its grouping connection f, to again raise the grouping member e and cause the pawl h to rotate the ratchet-wheel h" a second tooth in the same direction as before; but when the pawl engages this second tooth, the pocket of whiehiregistered with the pocket of the disk h at the' face of the wheel, the end of said pawl drops into the bottom ofthe said pocket in the ratchet-wheel, so that having movedthe ratchet-wheel a distance represented by this second tooth the pawl remains suspended in the pocket-of the tooth infits elevated position, thereby holding the operating'member in its elevated position and preventing a return movement of the interlocking member,

which thereby prohibits further operation of the keys in the same-horizontal series for further voting,- the voter having cast-the two votes allotted to him for representative.

. Should the voter upon release of the first key attempt to ca'sthis second vote for the same candidate, he will operate the same key a second time and will move the interlocking device to the left, as described, and move the ratehet-wheela second tooth, where-it will be left to prevent further voting for 'th'is'oflice,

and he will thereby have used up his two opportunities for votingforthis oflicc, but will have registered only his first vote, for the counter-actuator, having been once moved to register a vote for a candidate, remains, as

described, in its elevatedposition to prevent a second vote being registeredfor the same candidate until the entire mechanism has been returned to its normal position by movemeat of the resetting device, to be described. 'lhe'votor having registered his-two votes for candidates whose namesappcar in the first horizontal series of keys, to-prevent his subsequent-registering additional votes for candidate's whose" names appear in the second .a V-sha ed interlocking device or, (see. Figs.

1 and S, pivoted at "(n' and having two angular or beveled corners m adapted to be acted upon by. the beveled or pointed ends ofthe pro ections or separators m of the respective interlocking members (I for those two series of keys. v v

Referring to Fig. 1, when the voter presses the key of the top series to register his first vote for representative the projection m on the interlocking member forthat series is moved to the left over the iriterloeking device m, but is by return movement of, the interlockingmember again moved to the right of and to clear the said interlocking device m. Upon operation of the second key in the top series after the registering of his second.

and last vote for representative the said jection mis by movementof the interlocking member cl again moved into position over the interlocking device m but this time it is not returned, because the interlocking member (1 was not returned, and with the projection 'm in position-over the interlocking device an itis thereafter impossible to operate any of the' keys of the second horizontal series, because of the impossibility of moving the interlocking member d of that series to the left-, its

projection m being in front of the interlocksaid member :1.

ing device m, which cannot be raised, and therefore prevents sliding movement of the Should the voter wish to register his second vote for a candidate whose name appears on the second horizontal series of keys, he will operate the desired key, registering his vote in the counter for that key, and by movement of the key throw the interlocking member (1 of that series to the left, bausing its grouping connection to lift the grouping member a and move t e ratchet-wheel as previously described, and at tho'sametime its projection m, by reason of its inclined face and the inclined face oi the interlockingdevice m, raises and passes beneath the latter, and as this second movement of the groupingmem'ber e Ieavcs it in its elevated position suspended in the pocket of the ratchet-wheel, as before described, the interlocking member of the second series operated will not return to its normal position, and therefore the projection m of the member remains in position beneath and supporting the interlocking device m and prevents a subsequent movement of a key in the first series should the voter try to register a third vote. It will thus be seen that in voting for two representatives the voter is preeospes.

heading School Board, to entitle each voter to vote for four candidates in either of the parties for the ollico of school-board. I have accordingly connected the horizontal sliding interlocking members (I of the last four horizontal series of keys by grouping connections 1", similar to the grouping connections previously described, with a second vertically,

movable grouping member (2, and: therefore with the second grouping device II, and I.

have also interlocked the last four interlocking members (1 by means of three interlockingdevices m, similar to that previously described. The disk h of the second grouping device II is therefore so set relatively to its movement to the wheel before its pawl drops into the pocket, the several disks being numbored, as shown, to enable them to be readily Hatchet-wheel h as-to give four notches of e adjusted with relation to-their respective ratchet-wheels. Supposing, therefore, that the voter wishes to cast his four votes for the four candidates of the school -'board whose inamos appear in the same'vertical row, ho .wlll first press the key against the desired ,candidates na'moin the first row-that is, the fourth row from the bottoyn-and will register his vote by means of the counter for that can-' didate and by movement of the key throw the interlockin g memberd of the series to the left, causing'it, through its connection f, to raise the second grouping member e and, through the pawl' connected therewith, rotate the ratchet 71. one 'tooth,'and upon release the key is returned to its normal position, and the grouping member e, by its weight, as previously described, at once returns the interlocking member (1 again to the right into its normal position.

The voter now presses the key in the second series-that is, thethird from the botton1to register his second vote by means of its counter forthe desired candidate, and by such movement of the key throws the interlocking member of the said second series tothe left,'and,thro ugh its groo ping connection, asecond time raises the grou p- ;i g member 6 and moves the 'ratehet vheel h a second tooth, the parts being returned to their normal position, as described. deter his third vo e for the candidate of the third series thatis, the second from the bottom-he presses the desired key-and registers his vote by means of the counter for that key and throws the interlockingmember of that series to the left and raises the second groi p- Tom athird tooth, the parts being again returned to their normal position upon release of the key. To register his fourth and last vote for the ollice of school-board, he presses a key in the fourth or last (bottom) series, registers his vote for the desired candidate, and throws the interlocking member of the last series to the loft, and, throughits grouping connectionsf, afourth time raises the grouping member r: and moves the ratchet-wheel a fourth tooth or notch forward, and this time the pawl drops into the pocket in the ratchet-wheel at the fourth notch and holds the second grouping member a in its elevated position, which i cvcnts thcrcturn of the interlocking memr d toits normal position. \Vlren the interlocking member :1 of the last series is nfoved to register the fourth vote, its projection on is moved beneath and raises the lowermost interlocking device m, together with the two interlocking devices resting upon it, into their elevated positions, and as the said interlocking member (I is not returned again toits normal posit-loathe said interlocking devices on are thereafter held in their ele-' .vated positions, preventing, by the projections m of the several interlocking members, subsequent movement of any of the keys in the four series.

- the same horizontal series of the last four series is prevented by the interlocking devices-1Z1 at the-back of the machine, previously described, and-simultaneous movement of two or more keys in-dilferent series is alsoprevented by the interlocking devices m, for

vices m are shown as provided with counter-.

balance-weights m to balance them and enable them to be easily operated. The voter is thus enabled to successively vote for four candidates whose names appear ext-the same horizontal series, or for four whose names appear in'diilerent horizontal series, or for two or more in either one of the horizontal series, and the rest in any other of the horizontal series, the other keys being, after the'four votes have been cast, permanently locked to preventa fifth or more votes being cast. The voter having cast all of the votes allotted to him now leaves the machine and the latter isreset-that is, returned to its normal condition throughout-in readiness for a second votcrby means of the resetting-arm If, which when'depressed in the'direction of the arrow 25, Fig. 7, rotates the resettingshaft h and causes the forked arm h on the said shaft to turn the bell-crank lever h" about its pivot and, through the connecting-rod h' and the cam-plate h", operated Simultaneous operation of any two keys in referred to, and are provided with pins b thereby, disengage all the'pawls of the sevcralgrouping d'evic csll, and simultaneously therewith, through the arm 1', depress the returning-rod t and through its pins. 1" and bell-crank levers i push all the interlocking members (i to the right into their normal positions, permitting the grouping members t to also drop to their normal positions, the ratchet-wheelsh and disks carried thereby being, upon release of the pawls, also returned to their normal positionsby the weight 71. described.

. lo insure the correct return movement of the-several ratchet-wheels of the grouping devices, I have provided the pulleys h thereof with side lugs h", which when the wheels have reached their normal or starting positions contact with suitable stops on the frame.

lhe resetting-shaft 71* is provided with a series of arms it, one for and arranged above each vertical series of counters at the back of the machine, and join ted to each of these arms is a depending rod h, which is provided with a series of pins 71., one for and arrangedabove each of the counter-actuating arms 0'. \Vhen the counters are operated by movement of he keys, raising the counter-actuating arms e, the said arms remain in their elevated positions, so that a second movement of the key cannot register a second vote for the same candidate untilthc machine has been reset,

but when the resetting-shaft is moved to return the machine to its normal condition throughout the armsh are moved to depress the rods h and, through their pins h depress or return the actuators c'to their normal condition in readiness to be again raised by movement of their respective. keys.

In the operation of the machine described the voter depresses or operates a key for-each of the several candidates for whom he wishes to vote, he being free to vote for any candidate of any party whose name appears on the face of the machine. If, however, the voter should wish to cast his vote for-a straight ticketthatis,a straight Republicamstraight- Democratic, or other ticket, to includeall the names in the vertical series beneath the title of the particular tickePI have provided the straight-ticket keys I) referred to, one for each of the parties under which candidates are presented for election. l

Referring now particularly to Figs. 1, 3, and 4, these straight-ticket keys I) are mounted 'to slide in suitable bearings in the frame, as in the case of the keys b,and preferably distinguished from the latter at the front of the machine by larger finger-tips, and are provided, as shown, at theirinner ends with lugs too b adapted'to act upon one of the arms of the bell-crank lcverslz loosely pivoted upon a shaft 1), traversing the-length of the frame, and having jointed to the free ends of their other arms at b the upper ends of the rods D, one for each vertical series of counters,

and which extend down alongside the rods h 

